Who’s Who – Elizabeth I

Henry VIII – Elizabeth’s father, whom she looks up to and frequently invokes, despite having cut her mother’s head off.

Anne Boleyn – Elizabeth’s mother and Henry VIII’s second wife. Executed for alleged adultery when Elizabeth was a toddler.

Edward VI’s Reign

Edward VI – Elizabeth’s younger brother. A radical Protestant who excluded Elizabeth and her sister, Mary, from the succession.

Catherine Parr – Henry VIII’s sixth wife, who helped restore Elizabeth to the succession but sent her away when she discovered her in a compromising position with her husband.

Thomas Seymour – Catherine Parr’s roguish husband who tried to have his way with Elizabeth during and after his marriage but came a cropper with the minority council of Edward VI thanks to his designs on power.

Mary I’s Reign

Mary I – Elizabeth’s older sister who resented her as Anne Boleyn’s daughter. Mary sought to restore England to Catholicism and suspected Elizabeth of complicity in Protestant plots against her.

Stephen Gardiner – the Bishop of Winchester and a leading Catholic figure at court who pushed hard for Elizabeth’s arrest and execution.

Thomas Wyatt – Son of the famous poet who led a rebellion against Mary and her marriage to Philip of Spain, for which Elizabeth was herself arrested.

Elizabeth’s Reign – Chief Ministers

William Cecil – Elizabeth’s most trusted friend and advisor, serving her throughout her life as her main advisor.

Robert Dudley – The love of Elizabeth’s life, who came close to marrying Elizabeth but remained her favourite throughout his life.